The Last Gosling

Yesterday morning, while waiting for the laundry, I strolled about the Gorge grounds. Down by the waterfront a family of three Canadian geese was busy feeding where the fresh water spillway emptied into the low tide water of the harbour. Two adults and one gray fluffy gosling poked around peacefully but with purpose at the water's edge. I thought how this gosling had escaped the demise befallen its nest mates. How many brothers and sisters had there been? Probably five or maybe eight? What predators had reduced this family to one offspring?  This remaining youngster was now nearly half the size of its parents but still appeared awkward and attempted to mimic its parents behaviors with hopeful approval. I thought this gangly goose would likely survive, now being relatively large.

Later in the evening while taking in the harbor from the cockpit after sundown, I spied the trio of geese paddling around a nearby boat at anchor. Perhaps they had become accustomed to handouts and were out for an evening snack. They meandered along the smooth surface curiously but cautiously looking at the boat. It was as if they were trying to be noticed but not wanting to seem intrusive. Polite geese. Very Canadian.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a large bird winging its way across the harbour. As it approached, I thought it might be a large heron. Upon closer observation, its profile became more distinct against the pastel sky. It was some sort of raptor. Ha, it was an eagle. The evening was turning into a grand display of wildlife.  I watched as the eagle flew along when suddenly it put on the air brakes. Now that's strange. Quickly it tucked its wings, made a half spiral turn with head downward and I thought "Oh no". Yes, the eagle was heading directly for the geese. Meanwhile the adults had outstretched their necks, low and threatening while corralling their young tightly between their bodies. The predator was diving with speed and clear intent. The talons were outstretched. With only a few feet between its sharp claws and the down of the gosling, the eagle flared away. Perhaps the posturing and likely the proximity to the boat had been just barely enough to avoid disaster. The eagle flew on to alight in a rough gray crag of a pine tree across the bay. The geese resumed their meandering beggary almost as though nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred. The very plump eagle sat watching.